Tesla’s highly anticipated holiday update introduced a variety of exciting new features, including weather radar, Apple Watch support, a mobile Dashcam viewer, SiriusXM, and more. However, Tesla also made several smaller, undocumented changes that were not included in the release notes. Below, we break down all the new features and updates that have been added to Tesla vehicles.
New Features and Enhancements
Precipitation Map The Precipitation Map (weather radar) is now available on all Tesla vehicles equipped with the Intel infotainment unit, except for legacy Model S/X. This feature, long requested by users, overlays a weather radar map onto the vehicle’s display, helping drivers navigate through changing weather conditions.
Fart on Sit A new addition to the Emissions Testing Mode easter egg, the Fart on Sit feature makes the vehicle emit a fart noise when someone sits down in their seat. The sound will come from the direction of the seat occupied. This feature defaults to off after every drive.
Voice Assistant and Command Changes Tesla has made enhancements to its voice assistant. Saying ‘Hi’ or ‘Hello’ to the vehicle will now trigger a response of “Hello!”—a possible sign that Tesla is developing a smarter voice assistant powered by Grok.
Voice commands have also been tweaked. Pressing the voice command button may no longer give an audible confirmation, depending on music playback and other factors. Additionally, sending text messages via voice command may now require pressing the steering wheel button again after selecting a recipient.
Equalizer Reset Button A new circular arrow icon has been added to the equalizer, allowing users to reset audio settings to default values with a single tap.
Performance Improvements Intel-powered vehicles have received performance boosts, particularly in high-demand applications like Tesla Theater. YouTube videos now stutter less, and media controls can now adjust web-based video playback, even when the vehicle is in motion.
Service Mode Updates Several menus in Service Mode have been updated with larger visualizations, particularly the Airbags and Seats menu. Vehicles with Intel infotainment units now have access to new visualizations previously exclusive to AMD-powered models, including Coolant and HVAC displays.
A notable addition is Service Mode Plus for the Cybertruck, which introduces a Connector Reference panel. This tool helps service personnel locate connectors and harnesses using a 3D model with a search function.
Menu Rearrangement Tesla has reorganized the settings menu for improved accessibility. The Seats menu has been added, pushing frequently used options higher, while menus such as Navigation and Trips are now positioned near WiFi, Bluetooth, and Upgrades.
Custom Lock Sound Display The Lock Confirmation Sound menu now displays the currently selected custom lock sound under Controls > Locks.
Easter Egg Enhancements Vehicles equipped with ambient lighting now feature additional customization options for the Rainbow Road and Santa Mode easter eggs.
- Rainbow Road: Light strips cycle through rainbow colors when active.
- Santa Mode: Interior lights transition between red, green, and white.
Energy App Enhancements The Consumption tab in the Energy app has been updated:
- Displays the last 200 miles of consumption instead of user-selectable 5, 15, or 30 miles.
- Instant Range / Average Range has been removed to simplify the interface.
- Average range now appears in the top left, displaying the offset from EPA-rated efficiency.
- Total energy consumption now appears at the bottom left.
- Color meanings have changed:
- Yellow: Energy consumption above EPA average.
- Green: Energy consumption below EPA average (does not indicate regenerative braking).
Toll Road Indicators in Navigation When selecting a route, Tesla’s alternative routes menu now displays dollar sign icons next to routes that include toll roads.
Explicit Content Filter Expansion The Explicit Content toggle under Audio Settings now applies to YouTube Music, in addition to LiveOne, Apple Music, Apple Podcasts, and TIDAL.
Charging Map Updates Tesla has redesigned the Supercharger and third-party charging map pins:
- Pins are now oval-shaped instead of circular.
- Charging icons have been added alongside stall availability numbers.
Dashcam Viewer Playback Speed Users can now adjust Dashcam Viewer playback speed. Options include 0.5x, 1x, and 2x playback speeds, accessible via a new speed selection button.
Tire Pressure Indicator Shortcut Tapping the Tire Pressure Indicator now opens a tire pressure card on the left side of the screen, instead of navigating to Controls > Service.
Conclusion Tesla’s holiday update brought significant quality-of-life improvements beyond what was officially documented. These hidden changes, ranging from interface refinements to feature enhancements, continue to improve the Tesla experience for drivers. As Tesla iterates on its software, further refinements and optimizations are expected in future updates.
